DOVER — The Office of Catholic Youth, Young Adult and Family Ministry held its annual recognition dinner on May 21 at the Modern Maturity Center in Dover. Awards were presented to adults and young people for their contibutions to youth ministry.
A few special awards were presented. Michael Connelly, the former director for safe environments for the Diocese of Wilmington, received the Father John J. Sheehy Award, which goes to a person who has “contributed so greatly that the very face of ministry to young people in our diocese has changed.
Sue Leonard received the Coach Jim Blunt Memorial Award for her contributions to CYM athletics. Leonard has been a basketball referee since the late 1960s and coordinates boys and girls volleyball, softball and girls basketball for CYM.
The following were named volunteers of the year: Lorraine Bailey, St. Dennis; Valerie Bica, Resurrection; Neda Biggs, St. Polycarp; Linda Brown, Immaculate Conception, Elkton, Md.; Jane Diffendall, St. John the Beloved; Jeffrey Facello, St. Mary Star of the Sea; Donald King, St. Benedict; Jennifer LaFrankie, St. Mary of the Assumption; Rose Pineda, Holy Rosary; Gordin Roblero, Immaculate Conception, Marydel, Md.; Kriston Romano, Holy Cross; and Christopher Schimpf, Padua Academy.
The St. John Bosco Award is presented to those adults who have been involved in youth ministry for five or more years and have been positive role models. They represent different categories. They are as follows: Michael Pietlock, St. Mary of the Assumption, athletics; Deborah Roy, Holy Angels, athletics; Claire Dasalls, Immaculate Heart of Mary, catechetics; David Gargula, Resurrection, catechesis; Carol Ripken, Office for Catholic Schools; Vanessa Vavala, Padua Academy, Catholic schools; Father Michael Preston, St. John the Beloved and St. Peter Cathedral, clergy; Deacon Frank Weber, St. Polycarp, clergy; Mare Draper, Immaculate Conception, Elkton, justice and service; Janelle Torres, St. Dennis, multicultural setting; Michele Thomas, Our Lady of Lourdes, parish youth ministry; and Linda Darling, Holy Cross, parish youth ministry.
The St. Timothy Youth Award goes to high school juniors and seniors “who lives as a disciple of Christ, sets a positive example for other youth, witnesses to their faith by exhibiting Catholic morals and integrity, demonstrates Gospel values through service to others, and exhibits Christian leadership at parish, school and/or community settings,” according to the youth ministry office.
The recipients are as follows: Nicolas Armando Chavez Del Prado, St. Mary of the Assumption; Bella Caraballo, St. Mary Magdalen; Ashley Carrier, St. Jude the Apostle; Olivia Datilio, Saint Mark’s High School; Jada Donahue, St. Mary Star of the Sea; Ted Donahue, St. Mary Star of the Sea; Nicholas Donati, Our Lady of Lourdes; Lydia Fowler, Immaculate Heart of Mary;
Alexa Frick, Padua Academy; Rachel James, St. John the Beloved; Jakob Keglovits, Our Lady of Lourdes; Hannah King, Padua Academy; John Paul Klemas, Saint Mark’s High School; Judith McDowell, Immaculate Heart of Mary; Isaac Meyer, St. Benedict; Jake Moyer, Holy Cross; Benjamin Orr, Resurrection; Gabriel Rabinovitch, St. Elizabeth High School;
Haylie Rogers, St. Jude the Apostle; Janet Silva Martinez, St. Dennis; Brianne Smith, St. Mary Magdalen; Alexander Szell, Holy Cross; Katrina Vallorosi, St. Ann, Bethany Beach; Henry Villatoro, Holy Rosary; Felicia Vitelli, St. Elizabeth High School; Patrick Watts, St. Polycarp; Genevieve Webb, Ss. Peter and Paul High School; Ella Wicks, St. Mary Magdalen; and Elizabeth Zolandz, Resurrection.
